De la notion au référentiel international de politique publique. Le savant, l’expert et le politique dans la construction du vieillissement actif

Abstract

The goal of this article is to show how, from a simple concept, “active ageing” was gradually transformed into an international frame of reference in public policies on the subject of ageing. Using an ad hoc methodology, the research presented here approaches “active ageing” by three entryways: 15 texts of major international organizations, a review of French-language and English-language scientific literature and 11 interviews with international experts on “active ageing”. The article shows not only the interrelation between the scientific productions and the major international organizations (UNO, OECD, European Union) but also the malleability of the concept, oscillating between a broad and transversal signification of public policies on the life-course and a narrower interpretation centred on sectoral policies like employment. This diversity of interpretations traverses not only the major organizations but above all marks the strong contrasts between English-language and French-language literatures. Finally, for the first time, this critical and reflexive scan proposes a socio-history of the evolution of a normative reference frame of ageing.

Keywords

• active ageing
• reference frame
• scientific report
• major international organizations